Table



June 1957 R. E. KJER JAKOBSEN 3,326,148

TABLE Filed May 6, 1966 United States Patent 0.

3,326,148 TABLE Robert E. Kjer Jakobsen, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Schlumberger Limited (Schlurnberger N.V.), Houston, Tex., a corporation of the Netherlands Antilles Filed May 6, 1966, Ser. No. 548,285 1 Claim. (Cl. 10891) This invention relates to a table and, more particularly, to a table which is constructed to facilitate the stacking of several of the tables, one upon the other.

When furniture is used in commercial applications such as hotels, restaurants, assembly halls, churches or the like, it is often desirable to move, rearrange or even stack the furniture to facilitate the use of rooms for more than one purpose.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved table which permits stacking of the tables, one upon the other.

With this and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates a table having legs on one side of the table offset a distance greater than the legs on the other side of the table, which distance is sufficient to permit the offset legs to be moved over the normally set legs. The ends and sides of the table top are recessed from the frame a sufficient distance to permit the tables to be stacked without scraping the edges of the table top. A continuous plastic slide is positioned beneath the table at its ends to facilitate sliding of the tables, one upon the other.

A complete understanding of this invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows a table embodying the features of the present invention with a portion of the table top cut away for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 2 shows end portions of two of the tables stacked one upon the other; and

FIGURE 3 is a bottom perspective view of one end of the table frame.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the table is shown having a top 11 supported by a frame. The frame is comprised of front and back members 13 and 14, respectively, connected by end members 15. Front member 13 is shown as being longer than rear member 14 so that legs 16 attached to the members are spaced further apart on one side of the table than on the other. The legs 16 may be joined to the members in any suitable manner such as by brazing, welding, etc. The legs 16 which are attached to the ends of member 13 are spaced sufiiciently so that a dimension A between the inner surfaces of the legs attached to the ends of member 13 is greater than a dimension B between the outer surfaces of the legs attached to the ends of member 14. This construction permits the stacking of the tables, one upon the other, as shown in FIGURE 2. Alternatively, the legs set at each corner of one end of the table could be offset to permit stacking of the tables in the other direction, that is, the long way. This would be useful when it is necessary for a group of stacked tables to be moved through a door opening.

FIGURE 3 shows a glide 21 made from an extruded plastic member for attachment to the underside of end members 15 to facilitate the sliding of one table upon the other. The glide 21 may be attached to the members 15 by means of screws 22 or the like, the glide having recessed or chamfered holes 24 to permit the screw head to be recessed in the glide. By extending the glide member to the full length of each end of the table, it is possible to stack the tables by raising the table being stacked a sufiicient distance to clear the top of the table on which it is to be placed. Thereafter, the table may be slid on top of the other table without the necessity of lifting the entire frame of one table over the other. The glide or slide 21 also prevents the frame members from scraping or scratching the tops of tables thereunder.

Referring to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the table top is shown as being recessed or offset with respect to the frame members. Each end of table top 11 is offset a distance C from the end frame members 15. This ofiset may be, for example, /8 of an inch and prevents the end members from scratching or scraping the ends of table tops when the tables are stacked. FIGURE 2 also shows the sides of the table top offset a smaller distance D, for example 3 of an inch, from the front and back members 13 and 14 so that when the tables are stacked, the side edges of the table will not scrape against the inside of the legs.

The above-described tables are stacked in the following manner: A top table is positioned adjacent a bottom table with front member 13 of the top table raised over back member 14 of the bottom table. The glides 21 on end members 15 of the top table are resting on top 11 of the bottom table. The top table is moved over the bottom table with glides 21 providing a sliding surface between the tables. The front legs which are spaced the distance A therebetween pass around the outer spaced distance B of the rear legs. The top table is slid forward until the legs and frame members nest as shown in FIGURE 2. In this nested condition, the offset table top and glides 21 prevent the table tops from being scratched by the frame members.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claim is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

A table constructed in a manner to permit stacking of one table upon another comprising: a top mounted on top of and extending above a substantially rectangular frame having first and second side frame members and end frame members, legs attached to the corners of said frame for supporting said frame and top, said legs on said first side of said frame being spaced a greater distance than the legs on said second side of said frame, the distance between the opposed inner surfaces of the legs on said first side being greater than the distance between the opposed outer surfaces of the legs on said second side so that said greater distance is sufficient to permit passage of the legs on said second side of the frame between said spaced greater distance of the legs on said first side, said top being offset laterally inwardly from the outer edge of each end frame member and also offset laterally inwardly from the outer edge of the second side frame member whereby the outer edges of said top extending above said frame members are spaced a sufiicient distance from the second side and end of said frame to prevent said outer edge from scraping against the legs of another table being stacked thereon, and a narrow longitudinal slide means underneath and extending substantially along the full length of each end frame member for providing a sliding surface along the length of each end frame member whereby the top of the table extending above the frame memhers is protected against direct contact with the frame of another table being stacked thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695, 828 11/1954 Witkowiak 108-159 2,842,412 7/1958 Mackintosh 10891 2,903,312 9/1959 Lawless 108159 3,031,277 4/1962 Van Buren 297-239 FOREIGN PATENTS 632,456 11/ 1949 Great Britain. 728,311 4/ 1955 Great Britain.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner. 

